Table of contents for 2024-08-27 in Cape Times

HEADLINE earnings per share (Heps) in JSE-listed private education group, ADvTECH, soared 16% in the interim period to June, driven by a 9% surge in revenue to R4.2 billion on account of strong demand and higher enrolments. Geoff Whyte, CEO of ADvTECH, yesterday said half-year Heps in the company quickened by 16% to 97.7 cents. This saw the company bump up its interim dividend from 30 cents earlier in the year’s contrasting period to the current 38c. Investors in the company reacted to this positively with the ADvTECH share price closing 070% higher at R33.30 on the JSE yesterday. This extended a positive run in the shares of the company which have appreciated by 8%, 9.83%, and 65.35% in the past seven days, 30 days and one year…

The “space junk” that fell over the Eastern Cape on Sunday morning has been identified as a meteorite. Scientists from Wits University and Nelson Mandela University (NMMU) closely monitored the event, including media and online reports of so-called “space debris” that entered the Earth’s atmosphere between 8:30 and 9am. Eyewitnesses saw, and some took videos of, a streak of bright light in the sky over St Francis Bay. What some speculated might be space junk from a satellite seems to have entered the atmosphere at a relatively low trajectory, breaking up as it burnt up. The captain of a whale-watching boat reported seeing objects splashing into the ocean off Cape St Francis. Professor Roger Gibson from the Wits School of Geosciences said: “Based on scientific assessment, the incident is consistent…

The South African Weather Service (Saws) says the sensitivity of the dam wall that fell increases the risk for the Cederberg and Swartland municipalities as it issued weather warnings for the Western Cape and Namaqualand. “A cold front is expected to affect the Western Cape on Tuesday (today), resulting in rain and showers over the western parts of the province. The sensitivity of the dam wall that fell increases the risk for the Cederberg and Swartland municipalities. The rain-on-rain situation may lead to localised flooding of roads and susceptible settlements,” the warning read. On potential impacts, the Saws said isolated cases of breakages of farm dam walls may occur. Local government, environmental affairs and development planning MEC Anton Bredell said the public must heed the warnings of strong winds across…

THE gap between women in rural areas and urban areas remains a very crucial concern. For many years, women in rural areas have been under-represented in many aspects, which include access to education, economic opportunities, access to adequate healthcare facilities, and to awareness campaigns that can address gender bias in rural areas. Much attention is often focused on women, but a significant divide exists between urban and rural women regarding political participation, representation, and influence. In some rural areas, women face societal norms and traditional gender roles, such as getting married early and doing house chores such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for children and elderly members. For instance, Women in South African homelands face challenges of being excluded in economic, political, social, and educational activities. This stems from South…

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez starts his second visit this year to West Africa today aiming to curb migration to the Canary Islands and to counter the Russian presence in the Sahel region. The West African migration route has seen a 154% surge this year, with 21 620 people crossing to the Canary Islands in the first seven months, EU border agency Frontex data shows. The wave has stretched resources on the Spanish archipelago, with local authorities saying they may have to house migrants in military camps or even in tents ahead of an expected rise in arrivals due to calmer conditions in the Atlantic Ocean. Spanish authorities fear that as many as 150 000 more migrants from Africa may be set to make the perilous crossing in the coming…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed to step up deportations yesterday during a visit to Solingen, where a deadly mass stabbing linked to Islamic State has emboldened the far-right opposition and stoked criticism of his government’s handling of migration. “We will have to do everything we can to ensure that those who cannot and are not allowed to stay in Germany are repatriated and deported,” Scholz said in the city. “This was terrorism, terrorism against us all.” The attack, in which a suspected Islamic State member, 26, from Syria is accused of killing three people, has fuelled political tensions over asylum and deportation ahead of three state elections next month. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which campaigns for a crackdown on migration, is leading in the polls. The militant…

COPENHAGEN: One person was killed and two were missing after an ice cave in Iceland collapsed on Sunday while it was being explored by tourists, authorities said yesterday. The victims were part of a 25-member group from several countries who were in the natural cave, located under a glacier, when the incident occurred. One person was declared dead soon after the incident, while rescue teams conducted an extensive and difficult search for two individuals believed to be trapped under the ice, police said. One person was injured and taken to hospital in stable condition, police said. The incident took place on part of a massive glacier. | AFP…

Rome: The captain of the luxury superyacht which sank off Sicily last week is being investigated for potential manslaughter, reports said yesterday James Cutfield, 51, a New Zealand national, was one of 15 people who survived the sinking of the Bayesian, which left seven people dead, including UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter. Prosecutors have announced they were investigating potential crimes of negligent shipwreck and manslaughter over the sinking of the yacht in a storm before dawn on August 19. They did not name any suspects. The yacht currently lies on its side on the seabed, 50m down. | AFP…

Kat Swanepoel will attempt to control the controllables as she faces a tough but exciting road ahead of the Paris Paralympics Games, which get under way tomorrow. Swanepoel will lead Team South Africa out for what will be her second Paralympic Games as the flag bearer, alongside track athlete Mpumelelo Mhlongo. She makes a return to the grand stage after the Tokyo Games in 2021. The 37-year-old has previously donned the green and gold of South Africa in wheelchair rugby and basketball, but due to a lot of physical challenges and injuries sustained, she retired from both sporting codes. Her love for sport and competition led her straight into swimming, and she finds herself carrying the hopes of millions of South Africans once again. Since the Tokyo Games, Swanepoel has…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally implemented the long-standing resolution of the ANC to house the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that were previously under the defunct Public Enterprises Department to the line-function ministries. The Presidency announced yesterday that Ramaphosa had signed proclamations which transfer the administration, powers and functions of the SOEs to their respective line-function ministries. The SOEs, following the dissolution of the DPE, were moved to the Presidency under Minister for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa. Opposition parties had complained about the Presidency overseeing SOEs instead of moving them to line-function departments. Alexkor will now be moved to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources under Minister Gwede Mantashe, and Denel will move to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans under Minister Angie Motshekga. Power utility Eskom will…

Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi revealed yesterday that the rejection rate for home loan applications has remained high at an average of around 68%, highlighting the challenges faced by the gap market in accessing finances. Kubayi said fewer than six million mortgage and home loan applications were received and processed between 2018 and 2022. “Out of the six million total applications received, two million were from previously advantaged persons with just over one million approvals. “Applications from historically disadvantaged persons, during this period, numbered four million with just over 2.4 million approvals,” she said. Kubayi said her department remained concerned that just under three million of those applications were declined, with financial institutions citing bad credit records and lack of affordability as two main reasons. Kubayi said the missing middle…

3 tins of sardines Store-bought puff pastry, 1 sheet 1 cup halved, cherry tomatoes 1 cup feta cheese, broken into smaller pieces 3 eggs 250ml fresh cream Fresh basil to garnish, 1 handful Salt and pepper to taste, 1 handful Preheat the oven to 200°C and grease a round quiche baking tin. Roll the pastry out over the baking tin and press the dough down firmly onto the base. Also, press up the sides and cut off the excess pastry. Prick the pastry with a fork, multiple times. Chill the pie crust in the fridge for 30 minutes to prevent shrinking when baking. Add a layer of baking paper over the pastry and fill with baking beans/rice. Bake for 15 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned. Allow to cool.…

WHILE 7-year-old Ashwin Jonkerman was laid to rest at the weekend, his mother is expected back in court today in connection with his murder. Drezene Jonkerman is one of two Southern Cape mothers accused of killing their children in separate incidents. Oudtshoorn residents were left in shock after Jonkerman’s arrest. Police initially opened an inquest docket for investigation. Police spokes- person Christopher Spies said a post-mortem conducted later indicated that the boy had died of strangulation and the docket was subsequently changed to murder. “The investigation into the death of the 7-year-old boy reveals that on August 11 at about 11.30am, Oudtshoorn police were summoned to a scene at Korhaan Avenue, Bridgeton. On arrival, they found the lifeless body of the boy in a bedroom. Paramedics later declared him dead…

The recent revelation that a single law firm submitted 44 suspected fraudulent medico-legal claims amounting to R497 million against the Eastern Cape department of health is an indicator of a system in desperate need of reform. The investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has unveiled what many have long suspected: the current system for compensating victims of medical negligence is rife with corruption, exploitation, and inefficiency. The SIU’s probe, which has already saved the national Department of Health more than R3 billion, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of how these claims are handled. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has taken the first steps in addressing this crisis by giving lawyers who have submitted fraudulent claims to the department a two-week window to withdraw those claims without…

Separatist militants killed at least 39 people in “co-ordinated” attacks in south-western Pakistan yesterday that largely targeted ethnic Punjabis, government officials said. In one of the attacks, dozens of militants stopped vehicles travelling on a highway through Balochistan province and shot 23 people dead – one of the worst shootings in the region in the past several years. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active militant separatist group in the province, claimed responsibility for an overnight operation in a statement sent to AFP. Government officials have reported deadly attacks in at least three districts in impoverished Balochistan, where security forces are battling sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence. “We have confirmed 39 people killed in several co-ordinated attacks carried out by the BLA terrorists,” said Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for…

Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron hosted far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen for rare talks yesterday, as pressure mounts for him to finally name a prime minister after July’s inconclusive parliamentary poll. Snap elections called by centrist Macron failed last month to extricate France from the hung-parliament deadlock that had seen his camp run a minority government since 2022. The left has pushed for Macron to name one of their own as prime minister, saying the position falls to them as the largest power. They have named 37-year-old economist Lucie Castets as their prospective candidate. | AFP…

BERLIN: Germany will donate 100 000 mpox vaccine doses from its military stocks to help contain the outbreak on the African continent in the short term as well as provide help to the affected countries, said a government spokesperson yesterday. The government will provide the World Health Organization with flexible financial resources via various instruments to combat mpox and also support its partners in Africa through the Gavi vaccination alliance, added the spokesperson. Germany has around 117 000 doses of Jynneos, which is being stockpiled by the German army after Berlin procured it in 2022. It will keep a minimum amount to protect travelling authorities. | Reuters…

McLaren driver Lando Norris produced a superb performance to break the grip of previously unbeaten local favourite Max Verstappen at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday. After spending too long, from their perspective, chasing Red Bull, McLaren can now proudly say they have the fastest car in the Formula One paddock. “100%,” replied Norris when asked if he had the quickest package available to him. Recent upgrades to the car have played a part in making it more competitive. “Simply lovely,” said a cheeky Norris as he crossed the line, copying a phrase Verstappen has used many times when taking the chequered flag. The only dark cloud on the McLaren horizon was the start. Both Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri suffered wheelspin at the lights, with the Briton giving up…

Noah Lolesio has been in and out of the Wallabies side since his 2020 debut and is under pressure again ahead of back-to-back Tests against Argentina in the Rugby Championship. Given first crack at the No 10 jersey by new coach Joe Schmidt, Lolesio started brightly in the July series against Wales but struggled behind a beaten pack in successive defeats by world champions South Africa. Schmidt has demanded teammates help take pressure off Lolesio on the field but the New Zealander’s patience may wear thin if the 24-year-old fails to stand up against the Pumas in La Plata on Saturday. Lolesio said he was grateful for Schmidt’s support while mindful of the need to be confident in his game. “Playing flyhalf for the Wallabies is up there pressure-wise (with…

THE Cederberg Municipality has refuted claims that it faced significant financial risks, as indicated by the provincial treasury, and said it had made strides in turnaround strategies to address financial standing. Cederberg was among eight Western Cape municipalities which Premier Alan Winde called on to stabilise their finances and restore service delivery to residents. Knysna, Matzikama, Theewaters- kloof, Kannaland, Bitou, Laingsburg and Beaufort West were the other municipalities named in the latest Municipal Performance Monitoring report which Winde’s office said was confidential. Cederberg municipal manager Gerrit Matthyse said the municipality had also graduated from the two financial planning programmes instituted by the treasury. “Though financial sustainability has been a significant risk for Cederberg, the municipality has made significant efforts in turning this situation around. The municipality maintains its status of…

Motsoaledi’s claims criticised as THE Law Society of South Africa has come out in defence of the legal profession, saying Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s “reckless” and “misinformed” remarks relating to medico-legal claims painted the entire profession with the same brush in the eyes of the public. Speaking during a media briefing at the weekend about the ongoing investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into medico-legal claims lodged against the Department of Health, Motsoaledi said they found lawyers who submitted fraudulent claims, embezzlement of trust funds, tricked people into signing power of attorney to sue and collusion between attorneys, touts, nurses and doctors in both public and private health care, as well the Office of the State Attorney. The department paid R3 039 951 634 towards medico-legal…

Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Dion George has welcomed the sentencing of notorious poaching kingpin Simon Ernesto Valoi, or “Navara”, by a Mozambican court. Valoi was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in leading a rhino-poaching syndicate. His accomplice, Paulo Zukula, was also handed a 24-year sentence. Valoi, from Massingir, a district along the border of the Kruger National Park, has long been a significant figure in the illegal poaching industry, targeting South Africa’s precious rhino population, George said. “The Mozambican court found him guilty of multiple serious crimes, including financing terrorism, poaching and money laundering, among others. These crimes have caused immeasurable damage to our natural heritage and have posed significant threats to both wildlife and the safety of those dedicated to protecting it,” George said.…

Race and colour so ingrained in SA psyche that they never fail to raise their heads IT IS NO surprise that Race, Colour, Gender-based Violence (GBV), Femicide, Disability, and recently even Neurodiversity keeps resurfacing in the South African socio-political discourse. Three decades after the onset of democracy in 1994, preceded by centuries of colonial-cum-apartheid rule, the above metrics inevitably tend to evoke near cathartic emotions, for race and colour especially are so ingrained in the South African psyche that they never fail to rear their heads, especially when they are exploited by radical elements across the political spectrum for their own nefarious motives. Short of a national pastime, it is still what defines us as South Africans and will probably persist for a couple of generations more, as our socio-political…

Russia launched a major missile attack across Ukraine yesterday, hammering locations in the country’s east and west, killing at least four and injuring scores, and putting massive strains on Ukraine’s energy grid. Ukraine celebrated independence from the Soviet Union on Saturday, and some form of Russian attack around the date had been widely expected, including in warnings from the U.S. Embassy. The bombardment, which hit at least 15 regions across the country, followed an overnight drone attack against Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as missiles attacks over the weekend that killed a security adviser working for the Reuters news agency and injured two others in eastern Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram that the attack was “one of the biggest combined strikes,” involving “more than 100 missiles…

The government in eastern Libya announced yesterday that all oilfields would be closed down and production and exports halted, while there was no word from the country’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli. The National Oil Corp (NOC), which controls the country’s oil resources, also provided no confirmation. NOC subsidiary Waha Oil Company, however, announced it planned to gradually reduce output and warned of a complete halt to production citing “protests and pressures”. Waha, which operates a joint venture with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips, has a production capacity of about 300 000 barrels per day (bpd) which is exported through the eastern port of Es Sider. It operates five main fields in the southeast including Waha which produces more than 100 000bpd as well as Gallo, Al-Fargh, Al-Samah and Al-Dhahra. Most of…

ABUJA: At least 49 people have been killed and thousands displaced in Nigeria after heavy rains caused flooding in the north-east, the National Emergency Management Authority (Nema) said yesterday. Three states in the north-east, Jigawa, Adamawa and Taraba, have been hit hard by floods, with 41 344 people displaced, said Nema spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel. In 2022, Nigeria experienced its worst flood in more than a decade which killed more than 600 people, displaced around 1.4 million and destroyed 440 000ha of farmland. The flood also destroyed farm-lands affecting 693ha of agricultural land. Nigeria is battling double-digit inflation which has been stoked by high food prices. | Reuters…

Tehran: Iran yesterday praised the drone and missile assault by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group on Israel, saying its arch-foe had lost the ability to prevent such attacks amid heightened regional tensions. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the group, which is backed by Tehran, had launched a large-scale attack on Israel, targeting “the Glilot base – the main Israeli military intelligence base”. Israel’s military, in turn, said the installation was not hit. Hezbollah militants have traded near daily cross-border fire with Israel since their Palestinian ally Hamas’s October 7 attack triggered the war in Gaza. | AFP…

Pieter-Steph du Toit is set to return to the Springbok second row far sooner than he would have imagined because of a deepening lock crisis in the fold of the world champions. Bok bruiser Eben Etzebeth has been added to the injury list and while forwards coach Deon Davids has not completely ruled him out, the Boks have a firm policy of not selecting a player who cannot train on the Monday before a match and yesterday Etzebeth was unlikely to train because of “a niggle”. Exacerbating the problem is that RG Snyman has failed a fitness test on his foot injury and Salmaan Moerat remains ruled out because of concussion protocols. Snyman was due to start in the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane earlier this month only…

Namibia’s premier export has traditionally been diamonds. At the moment, however, it seems that South African football agents are heading there to find other gems. There are currently nine Namibians on the books of Betway Premiership clubs – the biggest foreign contingent in the league – and some have already made a major impression. The star attractions are, of course, Mamelodi Sundowns’ ace marksman Peter Shalulile, who has bagged the Golden Boot twice previously, and Orlando Pirates’ flying winger Deon Hotto. Hotto will potentially come up against two of his compatriots in tonight’s MTN8 semi-final first leg against Cape Town City at Cape Town Stadium (7pm kick-off) with the Citizens now boasting defensive midfielder Aprocius Petrus and forward Prins Tjiueza in their squad. Walvis Bay-born midfielder Petrus arrived in the…

Even though they will not make the play-offs of the Currie Cup, Western Province are partially satisfied with their campaign to blood new players ahead of the United Rugby Championship (URC). Their hopes of finishing among the top four teams in the domestic competition ended this past Saturday after a loss to the Sharks at home, but being able to develop talent that could feature in their URC and Champions Cup campaigns was the priority. The URC starts in just under a month and with a long list of injuries and players who departed, the Cape side looks a bit light in certain positions – especially loose forward – but director of rugby John Dobson confirmed they won’t be bringing in mercenaries but rather focus on the talent that put…